By all accounts, Ireland is doing a decent job in fighting the coronavirus. We've flattened the so-called curve. On the whole, people have adhered to the social distancing regulations set out by the government to contain the disease. The question many people are asking now is: 'when will this be over?'.
The answer from medical experts over the past 24 hours: not any time soon.
As we conclude our sixth week in self-isolation today, there is more data emerging that ever so slowly, people are beginning to assemble more in public than they had been. Met Éireann have predicted weather around 20 degrees this weekend, which only feeds daydreams from our state of splendid isolation on that first pint or that big gathering with friends and randomers in a pub or fair green.
3pm Thursday
Phibsborough, Dublin. #COVID19 complacency? pic.twitter.com/eckom5HhVm— Cathal Mac Coille 😷 (@CMacCoille) April 23, 2020
In his media briefing yesterday, Dr Tony Holohan presented map data from Apple that said travel is up across the board.
He also presented evidence from the Irish National Seismic Network which measures both earthquakes and general noise which said there has been a rise in vehicle traffic.
“This is giving us hard evidence that there is more population movement in spite of our continuing advice. It’s giving us an evidential base for some of the concerns we’ve been expressing,” he said.
The data we received this afternoon shows an increase in patterns of driving, walking and transit among those who use Apple devices in recent days.
However, we also know from @TIITraffic that car traffic along the national road network is a fraction of what it normally is. pic.twitter.com/85T6v2QlPs— Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) April 23, 2020
This graph convinced Chief Medical Officer that people are becoming too relaxed about #COVID19ireland social restrictions. It measures noise vibrations created in the earth by our activities and movements. Massive drop on March 27 but noticeable spike up in recent days. #COVID pic.twitter.com/BEvM1bPzzv
— George Lee (@GeorgeLeeRTE) April 24, 2020
Dr Holohan went onto say he wouldn't suggest easing restrictions based on the current levels of disease in the country. Dr Phillip Nolan went on to say that Ireland 'has a a distance to go yet' before the self-isolation regulations can be lifted.
Dr Ruairi Brugha of the Royal College of Surgeons echoed this advice on Morning Ireland today. 'It only takes a small number of people behaving in a celebratory way. We know we Irish when we get the opportunity like to behave in a convivial way, and we like to do it around alcohol. It only takes about two or three per cent of us to act in a really irresponsible way and this virus will jump up again. I think it's going to be very difficult to put a halt on the economic measures.'
Dr Brugha called for a 'doubling-down' on the social distancing measures.
While countries like Austria and Denmark are easing restrictions, it seems that Ireland's top doctors are preparing the nation for a prolonged spell of social distancing. Driving this seems approach seems to be the fear of the session that will follow the relaxing of social distancing.
It seems Ireland still has some work to do before we can return to a semblance of normality.
